Kesha discussed implications of our social-media centric world, especially as it relates to trolls, bullying, and harassment. “I also know that many people don’t see celebrities as real human beings, so when some people say mean things about someone in the public spotlight it’s often more aimed at someone’s idea of me rather than me directly as a person,” she noted. Online harassment isn’t exclusive to celebrities, of course, but the increased follower count means that the bullying is often magnified for them.

Who are these trolls and what do they want? Like the rest of us, Kesha can only guess. She said, “Most of the time, I think trolls are just insecure people projecting their own insecurities and problems onto others.” Even so, she acknowledges, that doesn’t always make it easier to be on the receiving end of the bullying or harassment. “I have had a hard time with trolls because I am an emotional person. But I try to remind myself that these are just people hiding behind a screen, saying things they would never say to your face.”

Social media still offers an incredibly important platform, Kesha noted, especially for women, LGBTQ, and other marginalized folks. She explained, “I think that one positive thing about social media is that everyone has a platform to have their own voice heard. I feel it’s my right as a woman and an entertainer to speak out about the issues I am passionate about.”

It’s also an excellent tool for allyship and social justice organizing, and Kesha says she uses her social media platform to highlight the issues she’s passionate about. “I am most passionate about the issues surrounding equality; I believe that every living thing is equally important and every person deserves the same freedoms and human rights as every other person,” she explained. “I will always stand up for LGBTQ rights, women's rights, minority rights, or anyone who has their basic human rights challenged.”

But she also notes that social media moderation is key, especially when it comes to developing personal relationships. “I feel like the lines between virtual reality and real life have become increasingly blurred,” she said. “Especially with personal relationships, it’s important to ground yourself in the moment, to look someone in the eye while having a conversation or sharing an experience — that is something that can’t be replicated.”

Those interpersonal connections are necessary to maintain our mental health and connection to the physical world. “I don’t want to live my life virtually,” Kesha said. “I’m happiest when I’m in the moment with another human, and especially when I am connecting with nature. Our natural world is more amazing than anything on a screen. When you lose sight of that, and you spend you life focused on a screen comparing yourself to other people, it can trigger depression.”

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Of course, it’s challenging to maintain perspective about bullying and trolls when President Donald Trump could easily be called the Troll-in-Chief. Kesha expressed concern about the example Trump is setting for other people, noting that “When people, and especially kids, see the president acting so negatively towards others, I think that it can cause them to justify similar behavior in their own lives — and that’s not okay.” What we need instead, Kesha said, is “a leader who promotes unity and acceptance, who treats others how they themselves would want to be treated.”

Ever the optimist, Kesha sees one silver lining in Trump’s election: “I have seen millions of Americans come together against Trump in the name of acceptance and unity to fight against his bullying behavior.”

For more information about bullying and bullying prevention, visitStopBullying.gov.